It has now become difficult to essentially pinpoint what the biggest challenge for people on either side of the World’s newest international border is. And this by all means, is not at all good.

The conflict in both Sudans now has more than one face. There is the ethnical-related North-South conflict, the seemingly ignored Darfur ‘issue’ or the Arab-African ‘issue’ , the oil-related North-South skirmish, and the ethnical-related South-South problem.  The reality is that all these problems in the two nations are deeply complex with many isolated but every so often overlapping conflicts that blur common perceptions.

German investors are rapidly establishing their presence in the country with major investment portfolios, which is indeed a boost to the Kenyan economy. Recently, BASF, the world’s leading chemical company from Germany, officially opened a new office in Nairobi, which will care for customers in East and Sub-Sahara Africa. The move is part of BASF’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Africa’s emerging markets. Jacques Delmoitiez, president of BASF Europe, Africa and Middle-East, said the reason for this is that Africa is a vast, resource-rich continent with a rapidly growing population and economy. The continent is being looked upon as fertile ground to birth such lucrative multi-million dollar initiatives.

Eritrea categorically rejects the illegal and unjust sanctions by the United Nations Security Council. The resolution is yet another injustice perpetrated on the Eritrean people and it will heighten tensions and stoke an already explosive situation in the Horn of Africa. The resolution was not about Somalia or Djibouti. The Monitoring Group Report was incidental to the process, a mere fig leaf.

As it became evident to everyone at the Security Council, the sanctions were the result of undisguised United States hostility towards Eritrea. It was an attempt by the US administration to scapegoat Eritrea for its faulty and failed policies in the Horn of Africa. Wiki leaks documents amply testify that this is part of a concerted US campaign to muzzle Eritrea and bring it under heel by intimidating the Eritrean people and imposing economic hardships on them.

As an environmental specialist and enthusiast, I always look forward to getting my monthly ration of the Green Agenda serving. Therefore, allow me to give my two-cents on this exceptional subject that not only butters my bread but also allows me to be a partaker in the global stance on environmental conservation. It has been proven time and again that man is the single biggest threat to the environment. Evidence suggests that life on Earth has existed for about 3.7 billion years. This, by and large means we need to co-exist with other life forms including Mother Nature. The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species. The natural environment is contrasted with the built environment, which comprises the areas and components that are strongly influenced by humans.

Is it possible that the Central Bank is holding foreign reserves in greater quantities than is necessary? Can something be done about this?

Mark Owiti Kisumu, KENYA

The country’s disaster preparedness leaves a lot to be desired. Am talking about the hospitals, fire brigade and community at large. Our health institutions are especially wont to ask for assistance from the public when they are overwhelmed. It is not wrong but if it becomes a habit then we really need to evaluate our preparedness strategy. Our hospitals should have already learnt their lessons from other previous tragedies and put effort towards being prepared. It does go to show that their resources are stretched thin, which is unfortunate.

I was pleased with the interview in the september issue of Diplomat East Africa on the role of ex-presidents in giving back to Africa. The excerpts from former Nigerian president HE Chief Olusegun Obasanjo were really insightful. Any citizen would agree with me that ex-presidents really do owe Africa and it’s good to see that the former Nigerian president is aware of that. The former president was shown to be involved in projects that would help change African leadership in future by mentoring the youth. One of the issues that were mentioned was incumbent leaders. As his excellency put it, “the successor generation would have nobody to succeed unless we tackle the issues of the incumbent leaders.”

Africa is torn between high expectation and anxiety over its newest baby, the South Sudan .Personally, I am beaming with joy and pride as we – my country and I – embark on the journey of new beginnings. It is indeed a heady feeling, knowing that we are truly headed home. Looking back, we have indeed come a long way from January 9–15, 2011 where my people from South Sudan voted to break away from Sudan.

The results on January 30, showed categorically our desire to be the true master of our destiny - Sudan. The climax of this bold journey came to pass  on July 9, when a formal declaration of independence was made ensuring that South Sudan becomes an independent state.

I trust you are well and your investigations in Kenya and elsewhere are on course. I am an avid follower of your investigations and the entire ICC process especially in Kenya. This is perhaps influenced by my little knowledge of International Law; the law that the international community, yourself included, invoked to ensure justice to the victims of the post-election violence of 2007/8.

I believe the court is well aware of the criticisms by mostly African states in regard to the functioning of the court. Granted, impunity in the aforementioned states is seemingly the order of the day. I am inclined to believe the grievances of African states about the perceived bias of the court carries a lot of water, too.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

The Cultural Council of the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran wishes to comment on the Interview by DEA’s Bob Wekesa which appeared in the October 2010 edition on the part of Iran’s leadership in the Middle East.

Your interviewee rightly pointed out that Iran is a big strong country with a prominent history. In fact it has an area of 1,648,000 square kilometres and a population of over 70 million people.  Iran is a cradle of ancient civilisations and cultures that have had a continuous impact on the world from time immemorial. Iran always seeks to maintain mutual friendly relations with not only its neighbouring countries in the Middle East but with any other sovereign country in the world.